We had another successful trip to Tulcea visiting some of the same villages as last year as well as adding some new ones. Once again, we partnered with Sprijin Fara Frontiere who not only continue their work helping poor Romanian communities but now are also assisting Ukrainian refugees and are assisting other groups getting supplies into Ukraine.
Our first day was a clinic at Chilie Viche, a remote, multi-hour journey on unpaved roads just across the Danube from Ukraine where we saw 65 patients. The people were so grateful! We identified many undiagnosed diabetics and gave advice to patients with poorly controlled Diabetes Mellitus and hypertension as well as a variety of other conditions. Our partners will be assisting them with getting medications and follow-up going forward. We then had a day in Tulcia proper where we saw Ukrainian refugees being assisted by Sprinjin Fàrà Frontiere and subsequent days had pop-up clinics in Nicolae Balcescu, Sinoe, and Nifon which are villages we had visited last year.
We had amazing help from a third-year Romanian medical student, a recent Romanian medical school graduate, a recent Romanian Biomedical engineer graduate and a 3rd year neurosurgery resident from Moldova as well as other non-medical volunteers.
The last days included a clinic in Peceneaga, at a private home we used last year. The wonderful owners not only allowed us use of their home but gave us a feast afterwards! Finally, we saw just a few patients using a home we had not visited before, at Dunavatu de Sus, close to a bay connecting to the Black Sea.
Our plan is to return to Romania in April 2023.